Friday, November 11, 2011

Guys are never indifferent to me

Anushka Sharma (Hindi: अनुष्का शर्मा pronounced [əˈnʊʂkaː ˈʃərmaː]; born 1 May 1988)is an Indian actress and former model who appears in Hindi films. In 2008, she was signed by Aditya Chopra for a three-film contract and made her screen debut in Chopra's Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. She later received acclaim for her role as Shruti Kakkar in Band Baaja Baaraat (2010). Both films fetched her a Best Actress nomination at the Filmfare Awards ceremony.

Anushka Sharma opens up about rumours of break-up, career moves and competition in the industry

You’ve been keeping a low profile of late.I’ve always kept a low profile. I’m not comfortable at social events or parties. I feel awkward. So if I’m not working, I prefer to remain in my own zone.

Before the success of Band Bajaa Baraat (BBB), the failure of Badmash Company and Patiala House must have been frustrating?Badmash Company actually did well. Agreed it wasn’t critically acclaimed but it did make more money than BBB. But yes, it was frustrating. Or maybe I should say I felt restless. I was eager to show my talent. I knew I was capable of much more. After BBB, I realised that ultimately what matters is your faith in yourself and if you’re lucky, there’ll be a few people around who will also have faith in you. I was blessed to have Aditya Chopra who launched me in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and then Maneesh Sharma who cast me in BBB. Karan Johar himself said in Koffee With Karan that when he saw Rab Ne..., he thought I was good but wondered about my future. But after BBB, he said I was born to be a star. I was happy with the change in his attitude. And though I’m confident, I’m also aware of my weaknesses.

And your weaknesses are?I don’t think I’m the best looking actress around. I’m not Katrina Kaif, she is stunningly beautiful. There are some roles that might need a beautiful girl and there would be a doubt in a director’s mind whether he should cast me. But that perception will change with time. I’d like to believe actresses look better with experience. So I’m hoping I’ll look stunning in a few years. Also, I’m not a trained actor. I rely a lot on my observations and experiences in life.

YRF (Yash Raj Films) didn’t promote BBB well. Do you think they should promote their films more?As producers, that’s entirely up to them. But having said that, no one wanted to hear about a film like BBB. It had a newcomer and me with two not-so-successful films behind. So a lot of news channels didn’t even want to come for the film’s press conferences. We didn’t get any support from the press either. The support came in only after they liked the film. As a production house, YRF did what they could. BBB had as many hoardings as Mere Brother Ki Dulhan. The only difference is that more media attended that film’s events as it had Katrina Kaif and Imran Khan in the lead.

Ladies v/s Ricky Bahl has four girls in the film. After BBB didn’t you want a solo heroine film?To me, things like screen time don’t matter. My character is the strongest in Ladies v/s Ricky Bahl. The film is about this smart con artist who has robbed 31 women of their money. And then he meets his match.

A lot was written about you not getting along with Parineeti Chopra who is being launched in this film…I shared a great relationship with all the girls in Ladies v/s Ricky Bahl — Parineeti, Deepanita Sharma and Aditi Sharma. Deepanita and I know each other from our modelling days. She used to be my senior and was so lovely to a junior like me. I’ve always admired Aditi. She’s a simple girl from Lucknow and a superb actress. Parineeti used to be in the marketing team of all the YRF films I’ve done. I never have issues with women. I’m the last person to get insecure. I don’t posses that quality.

Genelia D’Souza and Sonakshi Sinha are all over the place in terms of visibility. Have you missed out on something?Not at all. I have six brands in my kitty. As far as films are concerned, I’m starting my next film with Vishal Bhardwaj and then a film with Yash Chopra. So I think I’m in a good place.

Ranveer Singh told us that after completing Ladies v/s Ricky Bahl the two of you haven’t even kept in touch. Is that true?I guess when you’re shooting or promoting a film you tend to spend more time together. Once the work is over you go your own way. When people saw me and Ranveer together they started linking us together. But we were going everywhere together because we were promoting the film.

You guys left Ranbir Kapoor’s house party together. Was that also part of the film’s promotion?(Laughs) I don’t know why I’m explaining myself. You can’t explain these things. We had a lot of friends there and Ranveer’s car had gone to drop a friend home. He got into my car and I dropped him home.

What were those stories of you guys staying in the same room and Ranveer cooking for you during the Goa schedule of Ladies v/s Ricky Bahl?Ranveer has never cooked for me. Even if I’m dying and need something to eat, I don’t think Ranveer would be able to cook anything. And that staying in the same room bit is so bizarre. These things can be so easily be verified by calling up the hotel. Our rooms were very close to each other’s, so we used to eat in either of our rooms. Maneesh Sharma also used to join us. That no one wrote about. We would order our food together and all that was turned into stories. We also had the same schedule so we used to go to the gym together. Sometimes when my trainer wasn’t there I used to take help from Ranveer’s trainer.

So are you doing Habib Faisal’s film with Arjun Kapoor?No, I’m not.

There are rumours about Arjun Kapoor and you too…

People ask why actors prefer to remain aloof. It’s the press that makes you like that. I’m 23. Don’t you think it’s normal for me to hang out and go for movies with people my age? Arjun and I went to watch the film Bad Teacher together.But when it appeared as an item in a newspaper I was like, ‘Are you serious?’ The worst part was when people started speculating that to bank in on our chemistry; we were to be cast in a film together. Do you really think films are made for such frivolous reasons? And if they are, I won’t be part of them.

Can you tell us more about Yash Chopra’s next directorial venture, which you are doing?
We start filming next year. But I’m not supposed to say anything about that yet. It’s too soon.

The film also stars Katrina Kaif. Don’t you think with her being the senior actor she might steal the show?
No, I don’t think so. I have been cast in the film for a reason and so has she. We’ve been taken because we are right for the film and fit it correctly. I’m only too happy to be working with Yash Chopra. I never thought I would do a film with Yashji. He has made some of the greatest films, which I’m really crazy about. And I also get to work with Shah Rukh Khan and Katrina Kaif. I love Shah Rukh so much. I respect him a lot. I didn’t think I would get a chance to work with him again. Katrina has come from nowhere and she has made such a name in this industry. She is one of the most loved actresses right now and you can only give her credit for it. I respect her too. So for me to be in this film is a very humbling experience.

What about the Vishal Bhardwaj film you’re doing with Ajay Devgn?
We start that film this year. The movie is a dark comedy. Usually, I like to take a day after the narration to decide whether I want to do the film. But when Vishal Bhardwaj narrated the film to me, I immediately knew I wanted to do the film. Believe me, I had a list of a few directors I wanted to work with after BBB and within a year I’ve already signed films with two of them.

How you ever sent feelers to directors or actors hinting you want to work with them?
I can never do that. I know it’s very normal in the industry for an actress to tell actors and directors that she wants to work with them. I believe that when a director is casting for a film, the vision or the choice of actors should come from him. I shouldn’t be influencing him in any way. I want him to envision me while writing the film. Like all the directors I want to work with know I want to work with them. By telling them, ‘Please take me in your film,’ will they do so? Are they stupid? There was also this article in the papers that I was sending Salman Khan messages to work with him. I was so appalled. I really think highly of Salman and I’ve heard so many good things about him. Now that I know Arjun Kapoor as a friend, I get to hear so many nice things from him about Salman. I would love to work with Salman but I would never send any messages. I have met Salman once at an event for five minutes and was very scared to even talk to him.

5 Things People Don't Know About You

> I love eating Cerelac. It’s bought in my house like sugar and salt.
> I'm an American TV show buff. I can watch them nonstop for days.
> I’m lazy. If I’m not working I find it an effort to even talk to people.
> I used to collect toffee wrappers as a kid and put them in little shoe boxes. One day my mother opened these boxes to see what was inside and was appalled.
> I’m paranoid about shopping. I get irritable. I find it tedious and taxing. People say shopping is retail therapy but I need therapy after shopping.